Improvement in automatic catches for sliding doors



v 2Sheets --Sheet1. A. W. GIBBS.

Automatic Catches for Sliding Doors. No. 145,644. Patented Dec.16,1873.

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2 Sheets--Sheet 2'.

Automatic catches for Sliding Doors. No. 145,644. PatentedDec.16 ,1873.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AZEL V. GIBBS, OF NORWICH, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN AUTOMATIC CATCHES FOR SLIDING DOORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 145,644, dated Decemb: r 16, 1873; applicaticn filed December 12, 1873.

To all'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AZEL W. GIBBS, of Norwich, State of Connecticut, have invented an Automatic Catch for Sliding Doors, of which the following is a specification:

The nature of my invention consists in the construction of a device for locking the doors of freight-cars, or other sliding doors, which shall present no latch or projecting bolt to obstruct the doorway or interfere with the transfer of freight.

The following is a clear and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a front view of the device as applied to a freight-car. Fig. 2 shows the same with the door partially open.

A represents the front of a car. B is the door working in grooves or upon friction-rollers. C is the metallic casing of the lock. D is avibrating bar pivoted at e. F is a traversing bar pivoted to the lower end of vibrating bar, and furnished with a hook or catch, 9, for

securing the door. H is a trigger for disengaging catch g. I is a spiral spring for withdrawing the bolt when released by the trigger. J is a metallic plate sunk into the edge of the door, and furnished with a mortise for the reception of the catch y. K is a metal plate or bufl'er attached to the top of the door for working vibrating bar D.

The operation of my invention is as follows: Upon closing the door, plate K depresses the upper arm L of vibrating bar D, which, moving upon its pivot e, throws forward the traversing catch-bar F, until its hook or catch has entered the mortise in plate J, when arm m,

upon the rear end of traversing catch-bar F, falls, by the assistance of spring I, through a mortise in the lock-casing, at the same time elevating the opposite end, causing catch 9 to engage plate J, and thus firmly retaining the door, as shown in Fig. 1.

Armm of traversing catch-bar is provided with a hole, a, (shown by dotted lines,) for the purpose of inserting the shackle of a padlock, when additional security is desired.

In order to open the door, trigger H is pressed and elevates the rear end of catch-bar F, unhooks the catch, and releases the door, while the catch-bar is withdrawn by means of the spring, as shown in Fig. 2.

The above is a description of my invention.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The traversing catch bar F, furnished with a suitable spring, and pivoted to the vibrating bar D, the latter furnished at some proper point with a projection against which the doorshall strike in closing, all arranged as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of vibrating bar D and catch bar F with projecting arm m, provided with an opening, 11, as shown.

3. In combination with the vibrating bar D, the catch-bar F, and the trigger H for operating the same, all as described.

4. In combination with the bars D F and a suitable spring, the trigger H and. mortise catch-plate, all as and for the purposes described.

AZEL W. GIBBS.

Witnesses:

ALLEN TENNY, S. S. THRESHER. 

